These boots were made for whiskey, and they’re made for craftsmanship. And for the second year, Wolverine and the Old Rip Van Winkle brand have come together to showcase a limited-edition Wolverine 1000 Mile boot.
And once again, 100 percent of the revenue from the sale of these boots will go to the mikeroweWORKS Foundation Work Ethic Scholarship Program to help support the next generation of skilled tradespeople.
Following the success of the first collaboration, the Batch 2 Wolverine x Old Rip Van Winkle 1000 Mile boot honors what’s described as both companies’ commitments to create quality products through American workers.
The new boot has a distinct look to distinguish from last year’s batch, designed for collectors looking to celebrate boots and bourbon that are still created largely the same way they were more than a century ago.
“This collaboration celebrates and supports the hard-working people behind our products,” said Devon Vanoostveen, brand representative for Wolverine, in a prepared statement. “These rugged boots and fine bourbons would not be possible without the skills and dedication of so many blue-collar workers; farmers, coopers, carpenters, distillery workers, truck drivers, and shoemakers, to name a few.”
Batch 2 of the Wolverine x Old Rip Van Winkle collaboration draws what’s described as inspiration from the barrels that house Old Rip Van Winkle bourbons for 10 to 23 years. Made in the USA, this year’s boot features a classic moc toe design and is made with Horween Whiskey Predator leather – a rugged leather reportedly meant to stand the test of time that gets better with age.
The heels are handcrafted from the wood of the bourbon barrels that held this year’s release of Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year bourbon. The boots are finished with a hand-numbered, textile tongue tag that reflects the individual craftsmanship put into each pair.
“We’re thrilled to once again partner with Wolverine, a company that puts as much passion and care into creating their boots as we do our bourbon,” said Preston Van Winkle, fourth generation business owner of Old Rip Van Winkle. “Together, we’re able to honor our shared commitment to craft while also supporting America’s future workforce, inspiring a new generation to take pride in working with their hands.”
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Batch 2 of the Wolverine x Old Rip Van Winkle limited edition boots are available for pre-order now, ahead of the release date of Oct. 14. They can be purchased for $400 at wolverine.com/oldrip.
The mikeroweWORKS Foundation is a public charity that, through its Work Ethic Scholarship Program, provides financial assistance to people getting trained for in-demand, skilled jobs. Since its inception, it has granted, or helped facilitate the granting of, more than $6 million in support of technical and vocational education.
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